Arthurdale, Arthurdale

Morgantown may deserve its newly elevated status as one of best small towns to live in. But touristas looking to while an afternoon in this burg—or anywhere between southeastern Ohio and western Maryland—will be challenged, especially if your party includes the very young and old. The Arthurdale Heritage Museum helps fill that void. A short drive off the beaten path, this modest showcase offers a glimpse of the New Deal era, albeit ingloriously. Noble in intent, Arthurdale failed to fulfill its promise as a model community where the poor could rise by their bootstraps. Perhaps memorials to failure are destined to a cruel fate as well; this museum suffers from its subject's lack of artistic or cultural legacy. Still, it is interesting in its way and worth an hour if you're at all interested in the period. Round out your trip with a 10-mile diversion to Reedsville and a meal stop at Monroe's.